Isack Hadjar makes 'controversial' comment over famous Max Verstappen defeat

Isack Hadjar revealed that his favourite moment in Formula 1 history is Max Verstappen's defeat to Lewis Hamilton in the 2021 São Paulo Grand Prix, something he realises is "controversial". 

F1's trip to Interlagos in 2021 is one of the most famous races in the recent history of the sport, with Hamilton having recovered from last in the F1 Sprint after being disqualified in qualifying. 

The seven-time world champion had claimed pole but was disqualified from the session due to a technical infringement with his rear wing. As a result, he started the São Paulo sprint from last, before recovering to finish the 100km race in fifth. 

A further five-place grid penalty for a new internal combustion engine outside his legal pool pushed him to 10th on the grid for the grand prix. Despite the odds, he recovered once again to secure a famous win. 

Hadjar, a huge Hamilton supporter, is a huge fan of that grand prix in Brazil, where Verstappen finished in second.

"I'm going to be so controversial now, and I love it," laughed Hadjar, when asked for his favourite F1 moment. "Brazil '21. Yeah, I'm a big Lewis fan, yeah. That was big."

Hadjar is often spotted speaking with Hamilton in the paddock, a driver he looks up to, with the Briton's race pace leaving the French-Algerian in awe.

When asked what about Hamilton impresses him, Hadjar explained: "I think Lewis, if you look at until last year on Sundays, for me, it's all about his race pace. 

"How he can start from the very back and end up racing George [Russell], and fighting him when he's starting 18th, and George is starting ahead. 

"This race pace advantage he had on his team-mates when he was with Valtteri as well, the way he was like overtaking. And when he was in the pack, he was always having this different approach, his different lines, avoiding dirty air. 

"And if there's like a DRS train, and everyone is having six-tenths gap between each other, he would have three-tenths gap with the car that's ahead of him. So I think his Sunday drive is mighty."